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15 May 2017

Divided Loyalty: Britain's Polish Ally During World War II

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Poland was a quasi-military State undergoing rapid political and social change.

Nevertheless, Britain signed an agreement with the country as part of its decision to adopt a policy of encircling Germany: a resolution requiring an ally in the East. On the collapse of Poland in October 1939, the country's political opposition executed a coup against the Polish Government and formed a new administration, which was recognised by the Allies as the Polish Government in Exile.

This regime change precipitated a feud between the supporters of the new and old governments, which lasted throughout the war. In 1945, the British removed their recognition of the exiled government - now based in London - to pave the way for the Soviet Union to impose a communist administration in Poland.

However striking and fateful these events were, the history of how regime change came to Britain's Polish ally has largely been ignored until now.